Gunman opens fire in supermarket siege
A MAN is holding at least seven people hostage inside a Los Angeles supermarket after reportedly shooting his girlfriend and mother.
Police officers were seen carrying children from the scene of the shooting while terrified shoppers escaped the Trader Joe's store through a side window and down a ladder.
It has not yet been confirmed if there are any fatalities.
I was at the Silvelake Trader Joe’s but I got out and am fine. I’m with the employees behind the police barricade on Rowena.
— Devin Field (@thatdevinfield) July 21, 2018
Hostages apparently being held at Trader Joe’s. Police on scene. Everyone in Silverlake stay inside and stay safe.
— Patrick J Adams (@halfadams) July 21, 2018
The incident began when the man's car crashed outside the store in Silver Lake after a chaotic police chase.
The man began shooting and ran into the Trader Joe's store where he barricaded himself inside.
#Breaking: Now watching people climb out the window at Trader Joe’s in #Silverlake. Heartbreaking. #cbsla @cbsla pic.twitter.com/s1BXwGcJZ3
— Peter Daut (@CBSLAPeter) July 21, 2018
According to the Los Angeles Times, the incident began as a car chase pursuit from Hollywood that ended with the man's car crashing next to the Trader Joe's store.
Law enforcement sources told The Times that the gunman opened fire on officers and then ran inside the store.
The vehicle was wrapped around a pole and police rescued a woman left inside, according to reports.
Devin Field, a writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live, tweeted he was walking inside when a car crashed into the entrance and a man "got out shooting."
More to come
